SENATOR MEWES FROM SUNDERLAND AND WASHINGTON FACES JAIL AFTER FLASHING INCIDENTS NEAR SCHOOLS

In a series of disturbing incidents that have shocked the communities of Sunderland and Washington, Steven Mewes, a man with a troubling history, has been involved in multiple cases of indecent exposure targeting young girls. The events have prompted serious concern among parents, local authorities, and child protection organizations, especially given Mewes's proximity to educational institutions and his prior convictions.

In November 2013, Mewes, aged 33, was ordered by Sunderland Magistrates’ Court to stay away from any school premises after he admitted to exposing himself to teenage girls. The court proceedings revealed that Mewes had targeted two 14-year-old girls, who encountered him while walking along a path near a school in Washington. Prosecutor Neil Fodor detailed how Mewes was observed in a state that suggested he was urinating, making noises to attract the girls’ attention. When the girls looked in his direction, they saw him with his trousers around his thighs, exposing his genitalia, and holding a blood-stained tissue.

The court heard that the girls immediately alerted school staff, leading to police involvement. Law enforcement officers retraced the girls’ steps and located Mewes in the same area. During police investigations, the victims identified him from an identity parade, describing his teeth as “discoloured, crooked and uneven.”

Initially denying any involvement, Mewes later pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent exposure with the intent to be seen and to cause alarm or distress. During police interviews, he made a chilling remark, stating, “All the kids call me ‘Stevo the Paedo’. They think I’m creepy.”

Defense lawyer Ian Jordan highlighted Mewes’s history of learning difficulties and mentioned that he was undergoing treatment. Mewes expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging their inappropriateness and accepting responsibility. As part of his sentence, he received a 12-week suspended jail term, with a two-year supervision order, and was mandated to complete a sex offenders’ programme. Additionally, he was prohibited from entering a park in Sulgrave and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge.

Prior to these events, in October 2013, Mewes was released on bail under strict conditions that barred him from approaching schools. Despite this, he was living in close proximity to Highfield Primary School in Ford Estate, Sunderland, raising significant concerns among parents and child protection advocates. Many expressed outrage over the decision to allow him to reside so near a school, with some parents stating they were not informed about his living arrangements. One mother remarked, “It’s absolutely disgusting. We should definitely have been informed,” while another expressed shock that her young son walks to school alone.

Child protection charity Kidscape’s CEO, Claude Knights, criticized the housing decision, emphasizing the risks involved. She pointed out that Mewes’s residence near a large primary school was unhelpful for community safety and called for safeguards to be reinforced. Sunderland City Council’s social services are providing care and support for Mewes, with Councillor Graeme Miller explaining that he continues to reside in his tenancy as per court bail conditions, and that the council is working with police and health agencies to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place.

Attempts to contact Mewes were unsuccessful, as he was reportedly at work and later left the Sunderland area altogether. Northumbria Police reassured the public that sex offenders are monitored through multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA), designed to minimize risks and protect communities. Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird reaffirmed the commitment to community safety, advocating for tighter restrictions on offenders who pose a risk of sexual harm.

In a related case, Mewes’s pattern of offending was further detailed in court documents from October 2013. It was revealed that he had been observed in undergrowth near a school in Washington, exposing himself to girls walking to school on May 22 and again on June 3. The victims, two 15-year-old girls, recognized him as “Stevo Paedo,” and described how he appeared to be urinating while making noises to attract their attention. One girl managed to avoid eye contact, but the other saw his trousers down and his exposed genitalia, with tissues bloodied in his hands.

Further, when the girls encountered a friend, they identified Mewes as the individual who had been flashing at them. Police were called, and Mewes was arrested the following day after officers found him in the same area. He was later identified by two of the three girls in an identity parade. Mewes initially denied involvement but later pleaded guilty to two counts of exposure, acknowledging that he intentionally exposed himself to cause alarm or distress. The court noted his prior conviction for a “very serious sexual offence,” and he was given bail with the condition that he stay away from schools. Sentencing was scheduled for November 1, with the court warning that all options, including imprisonment, remained on the table.